Flames News

Gaudreau, Arnold make Team USA's preliminary roster

CALGARY, AB -- On Monday, Team USA released its preliminary roster for the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championships and two Calgary Flames prospects have made the cut.

Forwards John Gaudreau and Bill Arnold are amongst the 29 players jostling for a roster spot at Team USA's final camp in Camrose, AB on Dec. 17. The lineup will be unveiled on Dec. 22, prior to the team's final exhibition game against Slovakia.

Gaudreau, a freshman at Boston College, has amassed 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 16 games played this season and was named Hockey East rookie of the month in October. He played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL in the 2010-11 season where he netted 72 points (36 goals, 36 assists) in 60 games. He was named USHL's rookie of the year for his tremendous efforts that season.

Gaudreau was drafted by the Flames in the fourth round (104th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Arnold also attends Boston College, playing in his second season with the club. He scoring at more than a point-per-game pace this year, picking up 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 16 outings. He is second in team scoring, just three points behind leader Chris Kreider.

In the 2010-11 campaign, he was named to the Hockey East Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team.

The Needham, MA native was drafted by the Flames in the fourth round (108th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.